An Encounter with Jesus

Mat 8:34  And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. 

The people of the city came out to see Him. They came out to see the wild men subdued.

Oh the Joy - oh the rejoicing!

No these folks did not want what He was selling. They lost a herd of swine, they heard of demons cast out, they heard of the demons talking to this man that stood before them. Did they have fear and respect? Trembling and awe?

No they ran Him off because He challenged what they knew. He challenged their way of life.

They had their passage unblocked, for the demon possessed would no longer prohibit travelers from taking that route, they saw a power hitherto unknown and what do they do? They ask Him to leave, but not just to leave but to depart from their coasts.

They met Jesus and they asked Him to leave.

Perhaps herein is the cruxt of the matter.

They were more interested in what they lost than what the 2 men gained. For while the mad men, the demon possessed were nuisances - they could be gotten around, managed even. The loss of the herd though, well that was a loss, an inconvenience they could not handle.

They preferred their swine over the 2 men’s health and welfare. They preferred the materialism rather than the Jesus that could change their lives!

For there are many that prefer not to meet Jesus, prefer not to obey Jesus, for all they will lose in doing so is too great.

They do not see what they gain, just the temporal loss of money, prestige, reputation what have you.

Jesus can change lives, Jesus can fix the broken, yet we the broken must allow that change to happen.

So many fear what He might make them see in their lives, what He might ask of them to change and for that they walk away.

This town had an encounter with God and they asked Him to leave.

What will you say to Jesus when He shows up in your area, shines His light on you?

Will you ask Him in, or ask Him to depart?